In Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings fans got their first look at the two players they hoped they could sign in free agency this past summer in Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. The players who spurned Detroit’s advances to sign with Minnesota for matching 13-year, $98-million contracts. Red Wings fans haven’t forgotten, especially when the pleas for them to sign ran so deep that fans took to YouTube to convince them.

Suter was booed when he had the puck, and Parise was given the business after he scored his first goal of the game to cut Detroit’s lead to 2-1. Parise said his free-agent decision was a tough one and didn't appear to take the boos personally.

"They're just a great organization. I have a lot of respect for them," Parise said. "They do things the right way. They play the game the right way. That was a tough one, because it's a really good place to play."

But at least Red Wings fans had the last laugh, with the hometown team winning 5-3 powered by Todd Bertuzzi’s two goals, and Pavel Datsyuk’s goal and two assists.

Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will have to carry a rebuilding team this season that is trying to compete without seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom and net-front specialist Tomas Holmstrom, both of whom retired. Voids were also created when defenseman Brad Stuart was traded to San Jose, a team he would have likely signed with if he wasn't dealt. Forward Jiri Hudler left to sign with Calgary.

The Red Wings improved to 2-2 with the win, while the Wild fell to 2-2.